OF NATURE. 
67 
§. 8 * 
Prefer' vation. 
The great Author and Parent of all thirl gs* 
decreed, that the whole earth fhould be co- 
vered with plants, and that no place fhould be 
F 2 void* 
account of Mofes, fays the author* we are fare, that this 
was the cafe in the human fpecies ; and by the. fame ac- 
count we are informed that this firft pair was placed in E- 
den, and that Adarn gave names to all the animals. In 
order therefore that Adam might be enabled to do this, it 
was neceflary that all the fpecies of animals fhould be in 
paradife ; which could not happen unlefs alfo the fpecies 
of vegetables had been there likewife. This he proves 
from the nature of their food, particularly in relation to 
infe&s, moll of which live upon one plant only. Now 
had the world been formed in its prefent flate, it could 
not have happened that all the fpecies of animals fhould 
have been there. They mull have been difperfed over all 
the globe, as we find they are at prefent, which he thinks 
improbable for other reafons which I fhall pafs over for the 
fake of brevity. To folve all the phenomena then he 
lays down a principle* that at the beginning all the earth 
was covered with fea, unlefs one ifland large enough to 
contain all animals and vegetables. This principle he en- 
deavors to eflablifh by feveral phenomena which make it 
probable, that the earth has been and is ftill gaining upon 
the fea, and does not forget to mention fqjjil fiells, and 
plants every where found, which- he fays cannot be ac- 
counted for by the deluge. He then undertakes to (hew 
how 
